Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); TRICARE Dental Program. Office of the Secretary, DoD. Final rule

This final rule revises the comprehensive CHAMPUS regulation pertaining to the Expanded Active Duty Dependents Benefit Plan, or more commonly referred to as the TRICARE Family Member Dental Plan (TFMDP). The TFMDP limited eligibility to eligible dependents of active duty members (under a call or order that does not specify a period of thirty (30) day or less). Concurrent with the timeframe of the publication of the proposed rule, the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Public Law 106-65, sec. 711) was signed into law and its provisions have been incorporated into this final rule. The Act authorized a new plan, titled the TRICARE dental program (TDP), which allows the Secretary of Defense to offer a comprehensive premium based indemnity dental insurance coverage plan to eligible dependents of active duty members (under a call or order that does not specify a period of thirty (30) days or less), eligible dependents of members of the Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve, and eligible members of the Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve. The Act also struck section 1076b (Selected Reserve dental insurance), or Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, since the affected population and the authority for that particular dental insurance plan has been incorporated in 10 U.S.C. 1076a. Consistent with the proposed rule and the provisions of the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000, the final rule places the responsibility for TDP enrollment and a large portion of the appeals program on the dental plan contractor; allows the dental plan contractor to bill beneficiaries for plan premiums in certain circumstances; reduces the former TFMDP enrollment period from twenty-four (24) to twelve (12) months; excludes Reserve component members ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation from the mandatory twelve (12) month enrollment; clarifies dental plan requirements for different beneficiary populations; simplifies enrollment types and exceptions; reduces cost-shares for certain enlisted grades; adds anesthesia as a covered benefit; provides clarification on the Department's use of the Congressional waiver for surviving dependents; incorporates legislative authority for calculating the method by which premiums may be raised and allowing premium reductions for certain enlisted grades; and reduces administrative burden by reducing redundant language, referencing language appearing in other CFR sections and removing language more appropriate to the actual contract. These improvements will provide Uniformed Service members and families with numerous quality of life benefits that will improve participation in the plan, significantly reduce enrollment errors and positively effect utilization of this important dental plan. The proposed rule was titled the "TRICARE Family Member Dental Plan".     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); TRICARE Prime enrollment procedures. Office of the Secretary, DoD. Final rule

This final rule modifies the TRICARE Prime enrollment procedures for active duty families by specifying that enrollment will be automatically renewed upon the expiration of the annual enrollment period, unless the renewal is declined. It also allows for monthly installment payments of enrollment fees via allotment or electronic funds transfer for those beneficiaries required to pay an annual TRICARE Prime enrollment fee.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); TRICARE Selected Reserve Dental Program--DoD. Final rule

This final rule establishes the TRICARE Selected Reserve Dental Program (TSRDP) to provide dental care to members of the Selected Reserves of the Ready Reserve. The final rule details operation of the program.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); TRICARE Program; reimbursement--DoD. Final rule

This final rule revises certain requirements and procedures for reimbursement under the CHAMPUS program, the purpose of which is to implement a comprehensive managed health care delivery system composed of military medical treatment facilities and CHAMPUS. Issues addressed in this rule include: implementation of changes made to the Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS) upon which the CHAMPUS DRG-based payment system is modeled and required by law to follow wherever practicable, along with changes to make our DRG-based payment system operate better; clarification of payment reduction for noncompliance with required utilization of publication of list of ambulatory surgery procedures; limitation on ambulatory surgery group payment rates; extension of the balance billing limitations currently in place for individual and professional providers to non-institutional, non-professional providers; adjustment of the CHAMPUS maximum allowable charge (CMAC) rate in the small number of cases where the CMAC rate is less than the Medicare rate; implementation of the government-wide debarment rule where any provider excluded or suspended from CHAMPUS shall be excluded from all other programs and activities involving Federal financial assistance, such as Medicare or Medicaid; elimination of the requirement for non-participating providers to file claims; and revision of the ambulatory surgery cost-share information to enable the cost-share to be assessed against the facility claim instead of the primary surgeon's claim.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP)--DoD. Final rule

This final rule establishes the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP), a premium based indemnity dental insurance coverage program, that will be available to retired members of the Uniformed Services, their dependents, and certain other beneficiaries.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Service (CHAMPUS); prosthetic devices. Office of the Secretary, DoD. Final rule

This final rule implements Section 702 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998, which authorizes purchase of prosthetic devices, as determined by the Secretary of Defense, to be necessary because of significant conditions resulting from trauma, congenital anomalies, or disease. The Act changes the existing limited provisions for prosthetic devices, expanding coverage to include the cost sharing of other prostheses, e.g., noses, ears and fingers.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); TRICARE prime balance billing--DoD. Final rule

This final rule establishes financial protections for TRICARE Prime enrollees in limited circumstances when they receive covered services from a non-network provider.     

TRICARE: Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); nonavailability statement requirement for maternity care. Office of the Secretary, DoD. Final Rule

This final rule implements Section 712(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Pub. L. No. 106-65), which requires that a nonavailability-of-health-care statement shall be required for a beneficiary not enrolled in TRICARE Prime for TRICARE cost-share of maternity care services related to outpatient prenatal, outpatient or inpatient delivery, and outpatient post-partum care subsequent to the visit which confirms the pregnancy. The Act reestablishes a requirement which was previously eliminated under the broad direction of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 1997, section 734, which removed authority for nonavailability statements (NASs) for outpatient services. Therefore, the Act changes the provisions which require an NAS for inpatient delivery, but do not require an NAS for outpatient prenatal and post-partum care. The change will significantly contribute to continuity of care for maternity patients. In furtherance of that principle, and consistent with the previous policy, an NAS for maternity care shall not be required when a beneficiary has other health insurance for primary coverage.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); TRICARE program; nonavailability statement requirements--DoD. Final rule

This final rule revises certain requirements and procedures for the TRICARE Program, the purpose of which is to implement a comprehensive managed health care delivery system composed of military medical treatment facilities and CHAMPUS. Issues addressed in this rule include priority for access to care in military treatment facilities and requirements for payment of enrollment fees. This rule also includes provisions revising the requirement that certain beneficiaries obtain a non-availability statement from a military treatment facility commander prior to receiving certain health care services from civilian providers.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); voluntary disenrollment from the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP). Final rule

This final rule implements section 726 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001, which amended 10 U.S.C. 1076c to allow for voluntary disenrollment from the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) in certain circumstances.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); partial hospitalization--DoD. Final rule

This final rule establishes a CHAMPUS benefit for partial hospitalization and makes corrections and clarifications on other mental health issues resulting from implementation of recent legislative changes. The partial hospitalization benefit is being added at the request of Congress to improve the availability of mental health services under CHAMPUS. The intent is to provide a needed service at a lower cost than the full hospitalization rate, and allow more efficient use of resources for needed mental health care. Facilities must be certified and enter into a participation agreement with CHAMPUS and obtain the required preauthorization prior to admitting CHAMPUS patients. Applications for facility approval may be obtained from the Director, OCHAMPUS, or a designee.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); TRICARE prime enrollment procedures--DOD. Proposed rule

This proposed rule modifies the TRICARE Prime enrollment for active duty families by specifying that the enrollment period is continuous rather than a 12 month enrollment period and it allows monthly installment payments of enrollment fees for those beneficiaries required to pay an annual fee in order to enroll in TRICARE Prime. These modifications are being made because TRICARE will soon be available wordwide for active duty family members.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); TRICARE program; reimbursement--DoD. Proposed rule

This rule proposes to revise certain requirements and procedures for reimbursement under the TRICARE program, the purpose of which is to implement a comprehensive managed health care delivery system composed of military medical treatment facilities and CHAMPUS. Issues addressed in this proposed rule include: implementation of changes made to the Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS) upon which the CHAMPUS DRG-based payment system is modeled and required by law to follow wherever practicable, along with changes to make our DRG-based payment system operate better; extension of the balance billing limitations currently in place for individual and professional providers to non-institutional, non-professional providers; adjusting the CHAMPUS maximum allowable charge (CMAC) rate in the small number of cases where the CMAC rate is less than the Medicare rate; and implementing the government-wide debarment rule where any provider excluded or suspended from CHAMPUS shall be excluded from all other programs and activities involving Federal financial assistance, such as Medicare or Medicaid, and adding violations of our balance billing or claims filing requirements to the list of provider actions considered violations of the TRICARE/CHAMPUS program.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); five separate changes--DoD. Final rule

This final rule addresses five separate changes to comply with provisions affecting CHAMPUS. These changes will update this part to include as a benefit, a screen to check for the level of lead in the blood of an infant; to eliminate the implied statement that ambulance services are covered only to, from, and between hospitals; to include other forms of prescribed contraceptives by eliminating the reference that limits prescribed contraceptives only to those taken orally; to identify three additional Gulf Conflict groups eligible for the delay in the increased deductible; and to establish lower limits on the fiscal year catastrophic cap from $10,000 to $7,500 for all eligibles except dependents of active duty personnel, whose limit remains at $1,000.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); mental health services--DoD. Final rule

This final rule is to reform CHAMPUS quality of care standards and reimbursement methods for inpatient mental health services. The rule updates existing standards for residential treatment centers (RTCs) and establishes new standards for approval as CHAMPUS-authorized providers for substance use disorder rehabilitation facilities (SUDRFs) and partial hospitalization programs (PHPs); implements recommendations of the Comptroller General of the United States that DoD establish cost-based reimbursement methods for psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment facilities; adopts another Comptroller General recommendation that DoD remove the current incentive for the use of inpatient mental health care; and eliminates payments to residential treatment centers for days in which the patient is on a leave of absence.     

TRICARE; Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); bonus payments in medically underserved areas. Final rule

This final rule implements a bonus payment, in addition to the amount normally paid under the allowable charge methodology, to physicians in medically underserved areas. For purposes of this rule, medically underserved areas are the same as those determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the Medicare program. Such bonus payments shall be equal to the bonus payments authorized by Medicare, except as necessary to recognize any unique or distinct characteristics or requirements of the TRICARE program, and as described in instructions issued by the Executive Director, TRICARE Management Activity. This rule promotes a reimbursement enhancement to a limited number of physicians designed to increase TRICARE beneficiary access to care.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); TRICARE prime balance billing--DOD. Interim final rule

This interim final rule establishes financial protections for TRICARE Prime enrollees in limited circumstances when they receive covered services from a non-network provider. This rule is being published to provide protection for TRICARE Prime enrollees.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); medical documentation--Department of Defense. Final rule

This final rule amends DoD 6010.8-R (32 CFR part 199) which implements the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services. The final rule clarifies and strengthens medical documentation requirements under the CHAMPUS. This will assist in the maintenance of an adequate level of quality care and help ensure that payment is made only for services rendered.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); certified clinical social workers--Office of the Secretary, DoD. Amendment of final rule

This final rule amends DoD Regulation 6010.8-R (32 CFR 199) which implements the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS). This amendment implements language contained in the Department of Defense Appropriation Act, 1983, Pub. L. 97-377, which authorizes CHAMPUS payments to certified clinical social workers who practice independent of physician referral and supervision.     

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); reimbursement of providers, claims filing, and participating provider program--Office of the Secretary, DoD. Final rule

This final rule implements provisions of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1993, section 9011, which limits increases in maximum allowable payments to physicians and other individual professional providers (including clinical laboratories), authorizes reductions in such amounts for overpriced procedures, provides special procedures to assure beneficiary access to care, and establishes limits on balance billing by providers. Also, the final rule implements a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1992 that requires providers to file claims on behalf of CHAMPUS beneficiaries, builds into the CHAMPUS Regulation provisions that have been in effect for several years regarding the Participating Provider Program, and implements a new approach for CHAMPUS reimbursement for ambulatory surgery.